Ubisoft will stop using its always-on DRM scheme that required an internet connection to play their PC games, Ubisoft's Stephanie Perotti states in a Rock, Paper, Shotgun interview. The quotes about dropping the unpopular anti-piracy protection are highlighted separately, noting that it has been over a year since they last shipped a game using this DRM, and this will continue to be their policy going forward. "We have listened to feedback, and since June last year our policy for all of PC games is that we only require a one-time online activation when you first install the game, and from then you are free to play the game offline," the publisher's worldwide director for online games tells them. "Whenever you want to reach any online service, multiplayer, you will have to be connected, and obviously for online games you will also need to be online to play. But if you want to enjoy Assassinís Creed III single player, you will be able to do that without being connected. And you will be able to activate the game on as many machines as you want."

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Whenever you want to reach any online service, multiplayer, you will have to be connected, and obviously for online games you will also need to be online to play.

Call me the skeptic, but seriously this reads to me as a play on words. Using the right words to denounce always-on DRM, but really in effect still leave it in play. HoMM 6 and Anno 2070 have clearly added specific gameplay revolving around this "online" component. If you're not online, you miss out on progression within those gameplay elements and any features they provided.

None of the online elements in HoMM 6's conflux were necessary, yet they were tied to their Uplay service to create a perceived value. This is really the same debate as the always-on DRM on Diablo III, except with a much shittier implementation/integration..

Within the lines of the above quote, I'm sure it won't be long before they start offering more and more of core gameplay elements as "online" elements requiring a connection.